Course Overview
Course summary
Our degree courses with foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.
The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. During the foundation year you will explore a range of creative disciplines and get a chance to develop in your chosen field, benefiting from workshops in our high end facilities and working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules within your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.
On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Software Engineering BEng Honours over a further three years study.
Our course examines the best ways to design, build, maintain and evaluate software systems. It uses many of the technical aspects of computer science, especially programming, and aims to develop the professional attitudes, interpersonal and technical skills you’ll need in the software engineering industry.
The course provides a solid foundation in software engineering theory and practice to develop professional software systems. It will equip you to take up a wide range of career opportunities, including software engineer, web application programmer, software designer/analyst or website designer/programmer.
You’ll study software development, programming languages, technologies and applications including Python, Java, HTML, PHP, UML, database technologies, machine learning, algorithms and data structures, web and mobile computing, and Agile software development. Sharing a common first year with the Computer Science BSc Honours course to which you can transfer in Year 1, you specialise in software engineering from Year 2.
The Software Engineering BEng emphasises fundamental principles, design, acquisition of practical skills and evaluation of technologies. You may go on to complete an integrated Master's programme with the award of an MEng degree after four years.
Our course offers a short-term work-based learning experience that will give you the opportunity to work on a real-life problem, which is normally set by an external organisation as a small-scale project. This experience will allow you to put theory into practice by applying your new knowledge and skills to a real-life situation, usually within the context of a business-related problem.
In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and enhance your employability. You’ll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team. Typically, you will be assigned into roles involving tasks related to software engineering.
Top reasons to study with us
- Our course will help you develop your problem-solving skills. We practise problem-based teaching, allowing you to develop your skills in analysing problems within contexts, so you can find the best technological solutions
- You'll be involved in real-life projects and gain hands-on experience of working either individually or in a software development team
- Our course reflects the dynamics of the software industry – you'll learn state-of-the-art techniques and subjects such as machine learning, AI algorithms, robotics and smart systems, the Internet of Things, Big Data technologies, complex heterogeneous systems, and cloud-based, distributed and parallel software solutions
- You'll qualify for free British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership for the duration of your studies. The BCS supports those working in the IT industry and has a commitment to making IT good for society. The organisation has over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. Membership of the BCS will allow you to continue your professional development and enjoy a range of valuable networking opportunities. For more information, visit the BCS website
Course structure
Learning takes place through a combination of face-to-face teaching and independent study, including lectures, practical tutorials, laboratory sessions, personal development sessions, real-life project briefs and case studies.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Subjects of study include:
- Computer Systems and Networks
- Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
- Foundation Mathematics
- Information Systems and Data Representation
- Introduction to Academic Practice
- Programming
Credit Level 3
Subjects of study include:
- Computer Systems Fundamentals
- Mathematics for Computing
- Software Development
- Trends in Computer Science
- Web Design and Development
Credit Level 4
Subjects of study include:
- Algorithms: Theory, Design and Implementation
- Database Systems
- Object Oriented Programming
- Software Development Group Project
- Software Engineering Principles and Practice
Plus one option from the following:
- Machine Learning and Data Mining
- Mobile Application Development
- Operating Systems
- Robotic Principles
- Server-side Web Development
Credit Level 5
Our course gives you the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and enhance your employability after you graduate.
You'll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team.
Typically, you'll be assigned into roles involving tasks related to software engineering.
Find out more about the costs involved in taking a placement year.
Subjects of study include:
- Concurrent Programming
- Cyber-Security
- Computer Science Final Project
- Formal Methods
Plus two option modules from the following:
- Advanced Server-side Web Programming
- Applied Robotics
- Internet of Things
- Mobile Native Application Development
- Operational Research and Optimisation
Credit Level 6
Professional accreditation
This course is CITP (Chartered IT Professional) and partial CEng (Chartered Engineer) accredited by the BCS (British Computer Society).
Studying Computer Science and Engineering at Westminster
Watch the video below to find out more about studying Computer Science and Engineering at Westminster.
For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).
To request an accessible version please email [email protected]
Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.
Contact us for general course enquiries:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm GMT)
Live chat with us
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm GMT)
Open days
Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.
Can't attend? See more open events
Careers
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.
Get ahead before graduating
The work-based learning opportunities built into our course will provide you with valuable practical commercial experience.
Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Transferable skills
You'll gain the knowledge and experience to succeed in roles such as software analyst, software designer, software engineer, web application programmer and website designer.
Career development
Our course aims to create high-quality graduates who have a strong focus on solving real-world problems with adaptability and maturity, a strong foundation of knowledge and the technical capability to be able to immediately contribute to their workplace environment.
Our course provides an exciting and rewarding work-based learning experience that will help you develop subject-specific technical skills as well as employability skills such as leadership, organisation and commercial awareness.
In addition, this course gives you the opportunity to take a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study and gain work experience, enhancing your employability after graduation.
On graduating, you’ll be well-versed in all aspects of software engineering. As well as having a solid background in software development, you’ll also have knowledge of multiple specialisms in various fields relating to software engineering, which will benefit you during your early years as a computing professional.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Software analyst
- Software designer
- Software engineer
- Web application programmer
- Website designer
- Website programmer
Graduate employment
Graduates from this course have secured software development roles in various areas including:
- Banking (Barclays, ING Bank)
- Retail (Amazon, Argos, Co-op, Marks & Spencer)
- Service-providing sectors (British Telecom, Royal Mail, Y.T.C. Medical Ltd)
- Software companies (Nasco UK Limited, Qube Global Software, The App Experts)
International Opportunities
Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.
Opportunities could include:
- Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
- Attending an international summer school or field trip
- Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad
International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.
Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.
Course Leaders
Noam Weingarten
Senior Lecturer
Noam Weingarten is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Westminster. Noam is the Course Leader of the Foundation Level of all courses offered by the School, and teaches several modules.
He has been working at the University of Westminster since 2002 and is highly experienced at catering for the foundation level.
His research interests include cloud computing and the applications of such computing power such as bioinformatics.
More about meSee full profile of Noam WeingartenDr Klaus Draeger
Lecturer
Dr Klaus Draeger is a lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering. He received his MSc in Computer Science and Mathematics (2004) from the University of Kaiserlautern, and his PhD in Computer Science (2010) from Saarland University, Saarbruecken, followed by post-doctoral positions at the University of Oxford and Queen Mary, University of London. He joined the University of Westminster in 2016.
His research interests include mathematical foundations of computing, including formal analysis of software and the theory of concurrency. This includes topics such as automata theory, model checking, abstraction refinement, and algebraic structures such as event systems. This is also connected to his teaching, touched upon in the analysis of algorithms and the use of invariants and pre-/postconditions in programming.
More about meSee full profile of Dr Klaus Draeger
Software development is a skill with unlimited possibilities. This is your chance to unlock your potential.
Course Team
- Noam Weingarten - Senior Lecturer
- Maria Chondrogianni - Principal Lecturer
- Dr Artie Basukoski - Senior Lecturer
- Francois Roubert - Senior Lecturer
- Anne-Gaelle Colom - Assistant Head of School
- Dr Barbara Villarini - Reader
- Dr Alexandra Psarrou - Reader
- Dr Ayman El Hajjar - Senior Lecturer
- Professor Sophie Triantaphillidou - Staff
- Dr Vasileios Kontogiannis - Reader
Why study this course?
Fantastic central London location
Based in our Cavendish Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major tech-hub.
Improve your employability
You'll have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) and gain work experience, enhancing your employability after graduation.
Prepare for industry
You'll learn techniques and subjects such as machine learning, AI algorithms, robotics and smart systems, the Internet of Things, Big Data technologies, complex heterogeneous systems, and cloud-based, distributed and parallel software solutions.
Entry Requirements
- A levels – DDE (64 UCAS Tariff points)
- T levels – 64 UCAS Tariff points
- International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by case basis
- BTEC Extended Diploma – MPP
- BTEC Diploma – MM
- Access – 64 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
- GCSE English Language grade 4/C - IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C - IB grade 4
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component.
We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combinations of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.
Mature entrants without formal qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
View more information about our entry requirements and the application process.
- International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
- We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
- We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.
English language requirements
- If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
- If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.
More information
What our students say
Rathnayaka Kaduruwewa
BEng Software Engineering (Hons) - 2023
My time at the University of Westminster has been nothing short of transformative. Beyond the top-tier education and state-of-the-art facilities, the vibrant community, with its rich tapestry of cultures and perspectives, has expanded my worldview and instilled in me values of inclusivity and global-mindedness. The support I've received, both academically and personally, from mentors, academics, and peers, has been unparalleled, fostering an environment where I felt empowered to challenge conventions, take risks, and truly discover my potential.
Learn new skills
Learn a new language
From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme.
Develop your entrepreneurial skills
Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects.
Gain extra qualifications
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
Funding
As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what you tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.
International student funding
Find out about funding for international students.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what you tuition fees cover.
Teaching and Assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
How you'll be taught
Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you'll be assessed
Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.
Assessments typically fall into two broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
- Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2023/24
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course Location
With state-of-the-art science and psychology labs and refurbished computer suites, our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring,
Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.
For more details, visit our Cavendish Campus page.
Contact us
Call our dedicated team on:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
More information
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